Grinding or honing machine



5 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor J HN W H OWL ETT #W rQL Attorneys Jan. 5, 1954 J. w. HOWLETT GRINDING OR HONING MACHINE Filed Aug. 6', 1951.

Jan. 5, 1954 J. w. HOWLETT 2,664,711

GRINDING OR HONING MACHINE Filed Aug. 6, 1951 5' Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor JOHN W. HOWLETT Attorneys Jam 1954 J. w. HOWLETT 2,664,711

Filed Aug. 6, 195] GRINDING OR HONING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 r L\\\\ x; \w

I Inventor JOHN W- HOWL ETT A llorneyS Jan. 5, 1954 J. w. HOWLETT GRINDING 0R HONING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 6, 1951 Wi /Maw W Willi/[I7 Inventor JOHN W HOWLETT (i 47 v Attorneys 1954 J. w. HOWLETT 2,664,711

GRINDING OR HONING MACHINE Filed Aug. 6, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 7O 67 I as 67 66 z 7 1 HI llHl IIIHI III I 1 "um I u H g Inventor JOHN W. HOWL ETT LW #WQGBA Attorneyfi Patented Jan. 5, 1954 2,664,711 GRINDING- OR HON ING. MACHINE John William'Howlett, Lymington, England, as-

signor of one-half to Wellworthy Piston Rings -.1'Limited, ymington, England, a British com- [Application August 6, 1951, Serial No. 240,543

Claimspriority,, application Great Britain August 23,..1950

- ll-Claims.

The present invention relates to a-- machine for grinding orhoning thesid fwalls 'of split "piston r n s and ha s for-an object to provide-a maehine in whichthe split r'ingsare -fed between 'abra'ding wheels with the gapinfthe ringtrailing to'lessen the possibility "of Tfdama ge to the-horns defining the gap.

The presentinvention consists in a machine for grinding'or-honingthe sidewalls of "split piston ringsfin whicha pair of grinding or honing wheels are arranged horizontally, that is with their axes vertically,' one above the other with agap therebetween through which the rings are continuously; fed toggrindj orhone both side walls simultaneously, guide means b'eing' provided for guiding the =ring'sbetwee'n the wheels substantially"diametricallythereacross. and wherein the rings are fed .edgewise into the gap between the wheels by feeding ,fme'ans which advance them along a horizontal tableytherings-to be machined being stored in a magazine having means adapted 'to engage: with the gaps; in the ringsto orientate "them in a direction such that 'the rings successively removed from the magazine by thejfeeding means will be fedtothe gap; between the wheels with the. gaps in the rin s at the tra l n side of thering.

The magazine may be adjustable to accommodate different sizesofjTings-and preferably comprises a V-memberand a T-shaped member, both arranged vertically above the feeditable, the vshapedmemb'er being to the forward side of the .ringjiwith referencejtojthe direction in which it is advanced towards the" wheels) and the T- shaped member. attheftrailing side of the'ring, the web of the'T'b'eing' suchthat it can fitwithin and locate the ring gaps. The V-shaped member and the 'l' member.smay be adjustable towards andaway' from one another for" adjustment for .differentsizes of rings.

The ,7 rings .in'. the magazine are successively withdrawn from? the base of the magazine through an opening at the base of the V-mem- Iber of a depth greaterthanthe'width of a single ring, but less? than the width of two rings, by 45 means of a feedbelt" rotatable along the surface .of the feed table. The rings are thus f ed into a channel to a pair ef driven feed'rollers, having resilient surfaces which; are pressed together to gripha ring byyits sidewalls, these feed rollers positively advancing the rings in succession .through. a furtherchannel which leads to the gap between the ciltt'ing'wheels which rota'tein opposite directions;

' The surface of the'feed table may form the ring."-iThe sidewalls of the feedchan'nel are pref- (ohm-e112) understood, an embodiment thereof will now be dies band t-respectively. The latter are rotated in oppositedirections by electric motors 9 and Ill respectively'through belt drives I I and I2 respecerably-formed by two guidestripsof less thickness than the widtht'o which the rings are to be ground or honed,gwhichstrips extend along the surface of' thefeed table,between the cutting Wheels, and; over me surface of a table at the other side of the wheel onto which the machined rings-ar ejected. This pair of guide stripsare preferably made 7 of metal and each may be mounted on stud bolts or other means at its two extreme ends; the distance between the pair of stud bolts (one 'for each strip) at each end of themachine being adjustable to vary the spacing between-the strips. This adjustment maybe turned to adjust-the brackets'to the correct-spacing, thestrips m'ay betensioned by tightening further bolts-actinglongitudinally'of the strips and then looking them in the adjusted position.

The-feed table is made adjustable in height so that its surface maybeadjusted to lieexactly level'withthe surface 'of the lower cutting wheel. 25

is preferably carriedby the pillar by which the table is supported; so that vertical adjustment of thefpillar "simultaneously raises or lowers the motor. -Means maybe provided for locking the pillar inthe adjusted position.

Thetwo cutting wheels are also mounted so as to beadjustable vertically; with respect to one anothergfor setting the machine for grinding'or honing the ijingsto the desired width.

In order that the invention 'may be clearly from theleft of Fig. "1

"Fig. sis a plan View of the magazine, and

Figs'.4', 5, 6, "7, 3 and9 are sectional views along the [lines IVIV, y-V, VI -VI; vii- II, VIII VIII and IX-IX respectively of Fig. 1.

"'fReferring to th'e drawi'ngs, l'is thebase of the machine 'upon whi'ch is mounted ap'edestal' 2 for the feed table 3 and a support 4 for the cutting Wheels 5 and 6 carried on vertical driving spintively.

fjvertically ymblmted onqthe feed .table 3: isa

magazine comprising a V-shaped member I3 and T-shaped member I4 for holding a stack of rings to be ground. As indicated in Fig. 3 the V-shaped member I3 is to the forward side of the ring I5 with reference to the direction in which the ring is fed towards the cutting wheels and the T- shaped member I4 is at the trailing side of the ring with the web portion I5 fitting within the gap I! of the ring to accurately locate the ring for feeding towards the cutting wheels with the ring gap at the trailing side of the ring. The T-shaped member I4 is carried on an angle bracket I8 (Figs. 1, 3 and 4) clamped to a bridge member I9 by bolt 29 passing through a slot 2| in the angle bracket and engaging in a threaded bore 22 in the bridge member I9. The latter spans the feed table 3 and is secured thereto by screws 23. By slackening the bolt 9 the T- shaped member I4 can be adjusted towards and away from the V-shaped member I3 to accommodate different sizes of rings.

The v-shaped member I3 is secured to a supporting bridge member 24 by bolt 25 passing through a slot 26 in the bridge member to permit vertical adjustment of the V-shaped member I3 by means of the adjusting screw 2'! threaded through a lug 28 on the member I3 and abutting against a face 29 on the bridge member 24. The gap 39 between the bottom of member I3 and the plane of the top surface of the feed table 3 can thus be adjusted for rings of different thicknesses to permit the passage of the lowermost ring from the stack, the gap being adjusted to a value greater than the thickness of one ring but less than the thickness of two rings.

The feeding forward of the rings I5 is effected by means of an endless belt 3I mounted on driving pulleys 32 and 33 carried on shafts 34 and 35 respectively carried in bearings in the side walls of supporting structures 36 and 31 respectively for the feed table 3, which structures are carried on a platform 38 on a tubula support 39 slidable vertically within the pedestal 2. The tubular member 39 carries an electric motor 49 for driving the endless conveyor belt 3 I, the drive being taken by V belts from the pulley M on the motor shaft 42 to a worm box 43 at the rear of pedestal 2. A pulley 44 on the output shaft of the worm box drives a pulley 46 on shaft 34 by means of V belts 41.

The rings I5 are fed by the belt 3| along the table 3 to a pair of feed rollers 48, 49 (Figs. 1 and 6) of which at least the top one has a resilient surface 45, the rollers being pressed together to grip a ring by its side walls, so that the rollers positively advance the rings in succession to the cutting wheels. The lowermost feed roller 49 is driven by chain 50 from a sprocket 5| on the shaft 34, the chain driving a sprocket 52 on the spindle 53 carrying roller 49. A second sprocket 54 on shaft 34 drives by chain 55 a sprocket 56 on a lay shaft 5'! (Figs. 1 and 7) carried in a support 58 on the top of the feed table 3. Lay shaft 51 has a gear 59 keyed thereto meshing with the pinion 69 on spindle 6I carrying the upper feed roller 48, the pinion being fixed to the rolle by Pins 62 and 53. The feed rollers are thus driven to push the rings positively towards the honing wheels.

After being ground or honed between the wheels 5 and B the rings are received on to an outlet table 64 adjustably mounted, as hereinafter described, on the end wall of support member 4. The rings are guided through the ma- I chine by guide channels extending between the 4 various components. These guide channels are constituted by two guide strips 65 and 66 of less thickness than that to which the rings are to be ground or honed, which strips extend along the surface of the feed table 3, between the cutting wheels 5 and 6, and over the surface of the outlet table 64. This pair of guide strips is preferably made of metal and each strip is mounted on bolts at opposite extreme ends of the machine. At the right hand end of the machine, as viewed in Fig. 1, the strips are secured to brackets 61 (Figs. 1 and 8) by nut and bolt connections 68. The brackets are carried on stud bolts 69 having securing nuts 19 and carried on a lead screw II extending transversely of the machine and having threaded portions 72 and I3 of opposite hand co-operating with the stud bolts 69. The lead screw II is provided with a knurled wheel I4 by which it may be rotated to adjust the distance between the brackets 61 and hence the strips 65 and 56 to adjust the distance between the brackets 5'! and hence the strips 65 and 66 to adjust the spacing of the guide strips according to the diameter of the rings to be fed through the ma chine. The strips 65 and B6 are similarly mounted at the left hand end of the machine, as viewed in Fig. 1, on bolts I5 and I6 respectively (Fig. 9) mounted on a lead screw 'II having threaded portions I8 and I9 of opposite hand, and an adjusting wheel 39. After the lead screws have been turned to adjust the strips to the correct spacing, the strips are tensioned by tightening bolts 8| carried on the brackets 61 at the right hand end of feed table 3, as viewed in Fig. 1, and acting longitudinally of the strips against the end of the table.

The bottoms of the feed channels are formed by the surface of the outlet table 64 and of the feed table 3 and the tops of the channels are formed by removable members 84, and 83 carried in bridge members 81, 88 and 89 respectively and vertically adjustable therein by means of threaded connecting rods projecting through the tops of the bridge members and fitted with adjusting hand nuts 99, 9| and 92 respectively and locking nuts 93, 94 and 95 respectively.

The feed table 3 is made adjustable in height so that its surface may be adjusted to lie exactly level with the surface of the lower cutting wheel 5. To this end the tubular member 39 (Fig. 1) carrying the feed table is provided with an internal flange 96 resting on a flange 91 of a ring nut 98 threaded internally at 99 to engage a threaded pillar I99 carried on the base of the machine. The ring nut 91 is rotated, to raise or lower member 39, by means of a bevel wheel IUI secured to the ring nut by bolts I92 and meshing with a bevel wheel I93 keyed to the inner end of a shaft I34 the outer end of which projects through an opening I05 in the pedestal 2 and is provided with flats I96 for receiving a turning handle.

It will be seen from Fig. 1 that the motor 49 for driving the feed rolls and the conveyor belt is mounted on the table-supporting member 39 so that vertical adjustment of the table simultaneously raises or lowers the motor. A threaded bolt I9? having a rotating handle I08 is carried in a threaded bore in the pedestal 2 and acts against a resilient block I99 for locking the member 39 in the adjusted position.

The outlet table 64 is also vertically adjustable so that it can be brought to lie level with the surface of the lower cutting wheel 6. To this end the .table .34. is supported. on abracket I I9 secured to the end wall of support {by means of bolts Hi and I I? carried inthewallandex- 7 when the nuts ill and l l2 have been slackened.

These nuts are tightened after adjustment of the table.

The upper cutting'wheel 5 is vertically adjustable relative to the lower cuttingwheel t for setting the machine for grinding or honing the rings to the desired width. To this end a vertical rack M8 on the upper'wheel assembly is engaged by a pinion l is rotated by a Worm drive E26, Hi from a hand wheel i22.

.Whilst a particular embodiment has been described, it will be understood that 'various modifications may be made, without departing from the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A machine for abrading the side walls of split piston rings comprising a feed table, a magazine thereon for the rings to be machined, a pair of horizontal abrading wheels rotatably mounted one above the other about vertical axes and with a gap therebetween at the level of the feed table, means operatively connected to said abrading wheels to rotate said wheels in opposite directions, conveyor means forthe. rings mounted for movement along said feed table from said magazine towards said abrading wheels and arranged to remove the rings successively from said magazine and feed them along said feed table to the gap between said abrading wheels, driving means operatively connectedto said conveyor means; and guide means extending between said abrading wheels to guide the rings between said wheels substantially diametrically thereacross whereby both sides of the rings are abraded simultaneously, said magazine comprising a V- shaped member and a T-shaped member both arranged vertically above the feed table, said V- shaped member being on'the side nearer said abrading wheels, and said T-shaped member being on the side more remote therefrom and the web of the T being such that it can fit within and locate the ring gaps.

2."A machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein the V-shaped member and the T-shaped member are relatively adjustable to accommodate different sizes of rings. "35A machine for abrading the side walls of split piston rings comprising a feed table, a magazinethereon for therings to be'machined, a pair of horizontal abrading'wheels rotatably mounted one above the other about vertical axes and with a gap therebetween at the level of the feed table, means operatively connected to said abrading wheels to rotate said wheels in opposite directions, a feed belt mounted for movement along the surface of the table from said magazine towards said abrading wheels, driving means operatively connected to said feed belt, and guide means extending between said abrading wheels to guide therings between the wheels substantially diametrically thereacross whereby both sides of the rings are abraded simultaneously, said magazine comprising a V-shaped member and a T-shaped member both arranged vertically above the feed table, said V-shaped member being to the side nearer said abrading wheelsand having its lower end spaced from said feed; table :by a distance", greater than the width of ss n -hi .8 h t thewi lth qtiw rings, whereby the "rings arefsuccessively with? drawn from the base ofthemagazine bymeans of said feed belt," and said Tf shaped member being, at the side remotefrom said abrading wheels, the web of theTfbein g' such that it" can fit within and locatethe ring" gaps 4. A machine 'forabrading the side walls of split piston rings comprising a feed'table, a magazine thereon for the rings to be machined, a pairof horizontal abradin'g wheels rotatably mounted one above the other" about vertical axes and, with a gap therebetweenat the level or theffee'd table, means operatively connected to said abrading wheels to rotate said. wheelsimopposite direc;

tions, a feed belt mounted for movement along the surface of the table from said magazine to wards said abrading wheels,driving means operatively connected to said feed belt, and guide means.

extending between said abrading wheels to guide the V-shaped member, adjustable securingmeans securing said V-shaped member to saidsupporting member for vertical adjustment relativethereto and to the feed belt, saidI'V-shaped thember being to the side nearer'said,abradingvvheels,

a supporting member on 'saidieed table'for said T-shaped member, adjustablesecuringmeans sef curing said supportingv means, to said reed table forhorizontal adj ustment'towards and away rrqm; said V-shaped memberfsaid T shapedmember} being at the side remotefrorn 'saidj'abradingi wheels, and the web. of'the Tbing suichl thatit,

can fit within and locate the gaps.

5. A machine for abrading' theside wallsof,

split piston rings comprising a feed table, a 'm agazine thereon for the rings to bernachined, a pair of horizontal abrading wheels rotatably rep n ed one above the other about ve'meai axes andwith a gap therebetween atthe level of the'feed table, means operatively connected to said abrading wheels to rotate said wheels 'i'n opposite directions,

a feed belt mounted folmovement smegma sur face of the table'fromis'ald magazine towards said abrading wheels, driving means operatively connected to said feed belt, a pair of feed' rollers rotatably mounted between said Ifeed'belt and saidi abrading wheels andarranged toengage the rings as they leave the reed belt, "at least one of said rollers having a'resilientsuriace, 'meanisactingl': on said rollers to pressthem together, andmeans operatively connected to said r'ollers for rotating the'rollers to feed the rings towards the abrading wheels, guide means fortheri'ngs extending at least from said feed rollers through the gap between said abrading wheels to guide the ring b e-' tween said'abrading wheels substantially diamet- I rically thereacros'swhereby botlisides oi'the rings are abraded simultaneously; said magazine ine eluding guide means be the side remote from said abrading wheels'and'adapted to engage" with" the gaps in the splitring's to orientate them with the ap therein remoteir'om said abrading wheels,

whereby the rings successively removed from the v.rnagazine are fed towards the abrading wheels with the gaps in'the ringsat the trailing'sid'e or the ring.

6. A machine for abradi ng the side walls of split piston rings comprising a feed table, a magazine thereon for the rings to bem'achlned, apa'ii'" of horizontal abrading wheels rotatably mounted one above the other about vertical axes and with a gap therebetween at the level of the feed table, means operatively connected to said abrading wheels to rotate said wheels in opposite directions, a feed belt mounted for movement along the surface of the table from said magazine towards said abrading wheels, driving means operatively connected to said feed belt, a pair of feed rollers rotatably mounted between said feed belt and said abrading wheels and arranged to engage the rings as they leave the feed belt, at least one of said rollers having a resilient surface, means acting on said rollers to press them to= gether, and means operatively connected to said rollers for rotating the rollers to feed the rings towards the abrading wheels, guide means for the ring extending at least from said feed rollers through the gap between said abrading wheels to guide the ring between said abrading wheels sub stantially diametrically thereacross whereby both sides of the rings are abraded simultaneously, said magazine comprising a V-shaped member and a T-shaped member both arranged vertically above the feed table, said V-shaped member being nearer said abrading wheels, and said T-shaped member being more remote therefrom and the web of the T being such that it can fit within and locate the ring gaps.

7. A machine for abrading the side Walls of split piston rings comprising a feed table, a magazine thereon for the rings to be machined, a pair of horizontal abrading wheels rotatably mounted one above the other about vertical axes and with a gap therebetween at the level of the feed table, means operatively connected to said abrading wheels to rotate said wheels in opposite directions, a feed belt mounted for movement along the surface of the table from said magazine towards said abrading wheels, driving means operatively connected to said feed belt, a pair of feed rollers rotatably mounted between said feed belt and said abrading wheels and arranged to engage the rings as they leave the feed belt, at least one of said rollers having a resilient surface, means acting on said rollers to press them together, and means operatively connected to said rollers for rotating the rollers to feed the rings towards the abrading wheels, guide means for guiding the rings from said feed rollers to the gap between said abrading wheels and through said gap diametrically across said abrading wheels, said guide means comprising a pair of strips of less thickness than the width to which the rings are to be machined and extending along the feed table from one end thereof to the other and between said abrading wheels, and removable members covering said strips between said magazine and said feed rollers and between said feed rollers and said abrading wheels, said magazine comprising a V-shaped member and a T-shaped member both arranged vertically above the feed table, said V-shaped member being nearer said abrading wheels, and said T-shaped member being more remote therefrom and the web of the T being such that it can fit within and locate the ring gaps.

8. In a machine as claimed in claim 7, a transverse lead screw at each end of the feed table, each lead screw having two threaded portions of opposite hand, and a pair of strip supporting members, one supporting member for each strip, mounted on the threaded portions of each lead a a 8 screw, whereby the spacing of the strips can be adjusted by rotating the lead screw.

9. In a machine as claimed in claim 7, a transverse lead screw adjacent an end of the feed table, said lead screw having two threaded portions of opposite hand, and a pair of strip supporting members, one supporting member for each strip, each supporting member comprising a stud bolt and a bracket carrying said bolt, said stud bolt being mounted on the lead screw, means at one end of each bracket comiecting said bracket to the corresponding strip and a bolt at the other end of each bracket threaded through a threaded bore therein longitudinally of the feed table and engaging the end wall of said feed table whereby said strips can be tensioned by tightening said bolts.

10. In a machine as claimed in claim 7 vertically adjustable means supporting said removable cover members for the guide strips whereby said cover members are vertically adjustable to accommodate rings of diiferent widths.

11. A machine for abrading the side walls of split piston rings comprising a feed table, an externally screw threaded pillar, a ring nut on said screw threaded pillar, a horizontal external flange on said ring nut, a tubular shank depending from said feed table and carried by said flange on said ring nut to support said table, and means operatively connected to said ring nut to rotate said ring nut to raise or lower said table, a magazine on said feed table for the rings to be machined, a pair of horizontal abrading wheels rotatably mounted one above the other about vertical axes and with a gap therebetween at the level of the feed table, means operatively connected to said abrading wheels to rotate said wheels in opposite directions, conveyor means for the rings, mounted for movement along said feed table from said magazine towards said abrading wheels and arranged to remove the rings successively from said magazine and feed them along said feed table to the gap between said abrading wheels, driving means operatively connected to said conveyor means and guide means extending between said abrading wheels to guide the rings between said wheels substantially diametrically thereacross whereby both sides of the rings are abraded simultaneously, said magazine including guide means on the side remote from said abrading wheels and adapted to engage with the gaps in the split rings to orientate them with the gap therein remote from said abrading wheels whereby the rings successively removed from said magazine are fed towards said abrading wheels with the gaps in the rings at the trailing side of the ring,

J OHN WILLIAM HOWLETT.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 844,816 Lee Feb. 19, 1907 1,906,731 Wueriel May 2, 1933 1,968,840 Lunn Aug. 7, 1934 2,169,252 Koether Aug. 15, 1939 2,209,711 Young July 30, 1940 2,618,910 Cadman Nov. 25, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 180,744 Switzerland Feb. 1, 1936 

